August Maniaci

August “Augie” Maniaci was a highly respected Mafia member, but also an informant. As an informant he told many tales about others but would not squeal on himself.

August Jack Maniaci was born on June 16, 1909 in Milwaukee, WI to Nunzio Maniaci and Rose Mercurio. Maniaci was raised in “the life,” with his father, Nunzio, a mob member, and an arranged marriage to Mary Guttilla, the daughter of Rockford mob member Giuseppe Guttilla. One of his brothers, Vincent, is also in the Milwaukee Mafia.

On September 11, 1975, August Maniaci was murdered by five gunshots to the head (along with one to the left arm and one to the left shoulder) in an alley outside his Milwaukee home at 2121 North Newhall Street.

These notes come from Augie’s FBI file and other publicly available documents. 

1931

Nunzio Maniaci, of 501 East Detroit, was called in on May 30 (1931?) and spoke with Sergeant Dieden, Captain Ridenour and Adolph Kraemer about the recent Aiello murder. Maniaci said Frank Aiello was a “fine boy” and was not involved in the liquor business and owed no debts. He said he knew the Aiello, Guardalabene and LaMantia families quite well. He knew both Angelo and Pete LaMantia. Maniaci believed that Pete was actually Angelo’s cousin, and not his brother as had been reported.

Nunzio Maniaci’s 21-year old son, August of 149 Detroit Street, was questioned, as well. The younger Maniaci said he was a presser for a tailoring business at 340 North Jefferson. He drove an Oakland Coupe with a turtle-back, and acknowledged that he ran liquor that he kept in the turtle-back, saying it came from “different parties” in the Third Ward, and sometimes Vito Aiello or Angelo LaMantia — never from Frank Aiello. He admitted that Jack Enea was in the alcohol business, too, and both of them had gone to school together at the Detroit Street school.

1934

In 1934, August Maniaci married Mary Guttilla in Rockford. Mary’s father was Joe Guttilla, a made member in Rockford. This was almost certainly an arranged marriage. [I would like to know who the witnesses were, as this is often very telling.]

1935

For the years 1935-1940, Augie Maniaci and his wife were living at 1800 Montague Street and 1115 Morgan Street in Rockford. During this period Augie was listed as a salesman for the Forest City Macaroni Company. Interestingly, the manager for this company was George Saladino, who was an early made member in the Rockford Family. Later FBI files detailed how in 1937 Charles Vince and Sam Lazzio were part of a hijack gang and that the manager of a macaroni company was directing their actions and that the company was possibly a “clearing house” for the hijacked goods. Maniaci may have been part of this as well.

1939

August Maniaci was arrested by Rockford police and handed off to the US Marshals in Madison, then sent to the Secret Service in Chicago on May 25, 1939 for conspiracy to possess and pass counterfeit money. He was fined a mere $100.

1943

Vincent Mercurio (Augie’s maternal uncle) was arrested at the Schroeder Hotel in Room 2026 on July 25, 1943. Mercurio, who had just been discharged from the military two months earlier, was found in the room with an 18-year old woman wearing only a slip. He was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior. He denied any sexual relationship and the charges were dropped.

August Maniaci was arrested for receiving stolen property on September 17, 1943 but the charge was dropped.

1952

The Milwaukee FBI office received an anonymous letter dated March 28, 1952 claiming that the following men were members of the Mafia: Michele Mineo, Joseph Gumina, Vito Aiello, Santo Marino, Sam Ferrara, August Maniaci, Michael Albano, Pasquale Migliaccio, Nick Fucarino, Jack Enea, Charles Zarcone, Frank LaGalbo and John DiTrapani. The letter further named Ferrara as the leader and said that he was close with John DiTrapani. The FBI later agreed with the letter’s assessment. The letter listed known Mafia hangouts as the Tick Tock Club, Zarcone’s butcher shop at 1439 North Jackson, Dicky’s (Vickie’s?) Tavern at 1932 West St. Paul Avenue, and Chico’s Bar on North Farwell.

Bartender Victor (Vito) Aiello, 3262 North Cambridge Avenue, applied for a license to run the Town House at 2575 North Downer Avenue in August 1952. Aiello worked at the Club Midnight at 1902 East North Avenue (owned by August Maniaci). At the time, the Town House was owned by Dennis Holland and the two men were in negotiations. Aiello dropped his bid for the license on Thursday, October 30 after the city council delayed its decision, citing concerns over his source of financial income, believing that Aiello had not fully disclosed his sources.

1954

On January 19, 1954, Harold Klein, August Maniaci and August Chiaverotti were rumored to be operating a failing horse book at Club Midnight (1900 East North).

August Maniaci, now 44, was questioned by Lieutenant Schalla on March 20 (1954?) at 1:45pm concerning the recent murder of John DiTrapani. He said he had been employed by the Club Midnight for the past twelve years. Maniaci said he knew DiTrapani all his life, having grown up across the street — although he said his younger brothers knew him better. Maniaci knew DiTrapani was in an oil deal with Jerry O’Rourke, but knew little about the details. Maniaci said that Johnny ate lunch at his restaurant the day before he was killed, and was willing to cooperate with the department, but when Schalla mentioned the Mafia, Maniaci said, “I don’t know anything.”

Patrolman Hammes received word from an informant on April 21 that a man named “Gus Cappas” or “Kappas” from Chicago occasionally visited Milwaukee and was an intimate friend of mobster August Maniaci. The man was apparently a “big time” hood and gambler, who gambled heavily in Las Vegas and was involved in “highly profitable undertakings of various illegal deals”. Lieutenant Joseph Morris of the Special Assignment Unit did a lookup on a “Gus Cappas” or “Kappas”. Nothing was found, but Morris suggested they might be looking for Gus Zapas, whom he described as “a small time hood and burglar”.

1956

The Milwaukee FBI office received an anonymous letter on March 28, 1956 claiming that Sam Ferrara was the boss of the Mafia. The letter further identified the following men as being associated with Ferrara: John DiTrapani, Jack Enea, Frank LaGalbo, Charles Zarcone, Nick Fucarino, Mike Mineo, Joseph Gumina, Vito Aiello, August Maniaci, Santo Marino and Nick Albano.

1957

By December 1957, based on information from an incarcerated informant, the FBI began to believe that the Mafia operated in Milwaukee “under direct orders of” Tony Accardo in Chicago. The informant also identified Frank Balistrieri as John Alioto’s “lieutenant” and said another member was August Maniaci. An informant (possibly the same one) spoke to the FBI again on January 10, calling John Alioto the “big wheel” of the Milwaukee “syndicate”.

1958

An informant told the FBI on January 31, 1958 that John Alioto was the leader of the Mafia, Frank Balistrieri was second-in-command, and August Maniaci was next in line after Balistrieri.

On February 19, 1958, Walter Brocca was seen entering the home of August Maniaci at 2121 North Newhall Street.

August Maniaci filed for bankruptcy on May 26, 1958 in Milwaukee. His business, Club Midnight, was taken over by his father, Nunzio “Pops” Maniaci, who formerly operated the Canadian Club Cocktail Lounge on the southeast corner of Jefferson and Detroit.

1959

A meeting between several known gamblers and hoodlums took place at March 2, 1959 at 4:30pm at Gallagher’s Steak House. One such person there was August Maniaci. Maniaci and known gamblers were there again on March 4.

An informant told the FBI on June 12, 1959 that the top men in Milwaukee were Frank Balistrieri, John Alioto and Frank LaGalbo. Moving up in the hierarchy was Tony “Petrolle” Machi. This is the same informant who previously considered August Maniaci high-ranking — did Maniaci lose favor between 1958 and 1959?

1961

An informant told the FBI on February 10, 1961 that Sam Cefalu and Sam Librizzi were operating floating poker and dice games on the East Side. They were also running a craps game at August Maniaci’s tavern on Michigan Avenue for the purpose of raising money to bribe the State Parole Board to get two brothers (redacted) out of Waupun State Prison.

August Maniaci was interviewed by the FBI on March 9, 1961. He was asked if the Milwaukee hierarchy was John Alioto, Frank Balistrieri and then himself under Balistrieri. He nodded in agreement, and then said, “Remember, you said that.”

Detective Knueppel questioned August Maniaci, 52, on Wednesday, July 19, 1961 at 9:45am concerning the murder of Isadore Pogrob. Maniaci was employed by John Aiello at the Wisconsin Suppliers and Builders Company (1440 West Vliet Street). Maniaci had nothing to offer on the murders. At the same time, Knueppel spoke with Aiello, 46, 2761 South Herman Street. He said he no longer went to taverns as he had developed a kidney ailment and had to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester twice in the past year.

In the summer of 1961, Frank LaGalbo tried to take over leadership of the Milwaukee family. Some informants believed he might try to kill John Alioto. LaGalbo was supported by his two enforcers, August Maniaci and John Aiello. This brought the heat down on Maniaci and LaGalbo (though apparently not Aielllo) and LaGalbo left for a couple weeks (probably to Peshtigo) while things cooled down. LaGalbo was powerful among the younger Italians and had strong connections to Felix Alderisio and Tony Accardo in Chicago. He had fallen out of favor with Milwaukee after the murder of John DiTrapani in the early 1950s, which he may have committed.

An informant told the FBI on September 24, 1961 that Milwaukee had three cliques, because many were not happy with Frank Balistrieri’s leadership. One clique had Balistrieri, Buster Balestrere, Steve DiSalvo and John Rizzo. Another had Mike Albano, Joe Gagliano, Walter Brocca, August Maniaci and Harry D’Angelo. The third was Frank LaGalbo and unknown others. LaGalbo had recently been forced out of the Milwaukee Family and was now under the protection of the Chicago Heights crew.

An informant told the FBI on October 7, 1961 that Frank LaGalbo and August Maniaci desired to take over the Milwaukee Family from John Alioto and Frank Balistrieri. Further, that relatives of Alioto — brothers in the grocery business at Jackson and Juneau — were being pushed to run for public office by the mob.

1962

August Maniaci and another hoodlum [Joseph Angeli?] set up a $45,000 jewel theft from Earle J. Parisey on Wednesday, June 27, 1962. Parisey, a salesman for Kor-Rect Jewelry Manufacturing Company of Green Bay had the jewels in his car, which was stolen around 12:30pm from South 7th Street. The men who pulled the job were Thomas Sterger from Toledo, Ohio and Louis Klein from Columbus, Ohio and not close associates of Maniaci. The two men were arrested the following day in Detroit while checking their car into the airport. Somehow during the course of this investigation, Joseph Angeli, 28, was arrested on Thursday morning for being in possession of a gambling device (a slot machine hidden in a clothes hamper). Angeli had rented the car the Ohio men used and a witness to the theft wrote down the license number — this came back to Angeli.

The two Ohio hoodlums who stole the $45,000 worth of jewels were in contact with August Chiaverotti on July 31, 1962 and it was one informant’s belief that Chiaverotti was hiding the jewels inside the warehouse of the Para Corporation on the corner of 6th Street and Florida.

A stag party was held on August 28, 1962 at Alioto’s Restaurant on Bluemound for the purpose of a craps game. Although approximately 40-60 gamblers showed up, the game never happened because strangers were present and suspected of being police. In fact, Waukesha County deputies were observing the premises from 9:00pm to 2:00am after being tipped off. Instead, the men played poker for bottle caps. Steve DiSalvo and Joe Gurera had organized the game and were expected to take a cut. Among those present were August Maniaci, Joseph Gagliano, Walter Brocca, Anthony Cefalu and Donald H. Heiliger of Cambridge. An informant told the FBI that Waukesha County District Attorney Roger P. Murphy had warned someone from Campbell’s Tap (618 East State Street) about a proposed raid and he passed the word on to Alioto’s.

1963

An informant spoke with Agent John A. Holtzman on February 5, 1963 and told him that August Maniaci and John Aiello were the nucleus of a faction of the Mafia that was trying to “bust up” the faction with Frank Balistrieri. The informant further stressed that the Biernat murder was ordered by Chicago. He did not understand why Chicago would care about Biernat enough to kill him, but this was what his sources insisted. An informant also advised that Mike Lombardi, the ex-sheriff of Waukesha County, was getting in trouble for serving minors at the White Sails Tavern on Pewaukee Lake and would be moving to California.

On February 27, 1963, a police captain from Milwaukee’s 6th District told the FBI that Joe Gurera had called the LoDuca Organ Company two or three weeks prior, and since then someone (the owner?) had left for Italy. This same day, Agent John Holtzman spoke to a Milwaukee police officer (may be the same contact). The officer said he had a source who was getting fed information by August Maniaci, but nothing new had come in since a newspaper report on January 31 gave bad publicity. He believed Maniaci was trying to get Frank Balistrieri and Joseph Gurera in some heat. The officer believed that the “four principals” in the Biernat killing were Stelloh, DiSalvo, Gurera and John Rizzo. He further believed Albert Albana, Dominic Principe and William Covelli were not involved but “mixed up” in some fashion. Lastly, August Maniaci, Walter Brocca, Nick Gentile and Frank Cicerello were not involved but may have “some knowledge”.

The FBI interviewed August Maniaci at Maniaci’s Bar and Restaurant, 1902 East North Avenue, on March 6, 1963. He said that the restaurant was his only employment and he was not involved in the criminal syndicate. He further clarified that the restaurant had belonged to his father and was now owned by other members of his family — he just worked there.

On May 3, 1963, a Milwaukee police officer spoke with the FBI. He said he had heard rumors that Frank Balistrieri and August Maniaci were again “buddy buddy”. Balistrieri was also said to have an interest in the coin-operated machines that were in buildings owned by Samson Enterprises. namely, the Red Carpet Inn and the Rose Bowl. An officer found machines there without licenses and told the owners they needed licenses. Soon after, Balistrieri personally called the officer and said he would take care of it.

On May 10, 1963, an informant told the FBI that roofing salesman Richard Haas was being shaken down by August Maniaci and John Aiello for $100 or $150 at a time. These were alleged to be payments on earlier advances that Haas had taken out, except that no such advance ever existed. The informant also said that P&P Distributing (3726 West Pierce), operated by Robert Puccio and Joseph Pellegrino, were making extortion payments to Frank Balistrieri.

On May 14, 1963, an informant told Special Agent Gassaway that the Milwaukee crew was looking for someone local to replace Joseph Gurera as the strong-arm man. Gurera had been disappointing, but the Family realized this was not his fault and that it was making too many waves to have an outsider come in and try to pressure people. The informant suggested the best replacement would be to have August Maniaci and John Aiello working as a pair. He said they were “feared among the Italian element” and that Aiello was broke, so he could use the work.

Agents Holtzman and LeGrand visited Helen Nicoud, the mistress of Dr. Anthony Verdone, on June 25, 1963. She freely admitted to being his mistress, and said he took very good care of her ever since her husband died. She said she had never been to any gambling establishment with Verdone other than horse-racing tracks in Illinois. They did stop at the Vernon Hills Country Club one time to eat but they didn’t gamble there. Nicoud said she did not know Verdone’s financial situation, but suspects it might be bad because his car was repossessed a couple months prior while she was driving it. She acknowledged that Verdone made long-distance phone calls from her residence, but didn’t know who they were to because he charged them on his credit card. As far as his friends went, she knew he was friendly with August Maniaci and had once owned part of Club Midnight.

Agents Holtzman and LeGrand spoke with Blanche Verdone on June 27, 1963 about her estranged husband. Blanche said she married her husband in 1939 while he was in medical school and they lived together until around 1957, when he ran off with his secretary, Helen Nicoud. He came back in 1960 for a year, but again ran off with Nicoud. Blanche said the courts have ordered her to receive maintenance payments, but due to the doctor’s gambling, he often did not have the money. Blanche claimed that at one time Dr. Verdone was very well-off, with many properties and hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings. After expenses, she estimated he had been making $50,000 per year. Now he is broke because of his gambling, which Blanche blamed on Nicoud. He not only had to sell his properties, but was still in debt $15,000 to Blanche’s parents. Blanche said she had never personally been to a gambling house, but knew her husband went to the Bonfire and the Homestead, because he had matchbooks from there, as well as some place in Antioch. Blanche said she knew Augie Maniaci and the whole Maniaci family quite well. As far back as the 1930s, the Verdone couple would eat at Nunzio Maniaci’s restaurant, which was near the medical school. After graduation, Verdone became the Maniaci family doctor, and the Maniaci family had referred many other Italian families to Verdone over the years, as he was not from Milwaukee originally and did not have the connections that Nunzio Maniaci did. Blanche said the Maniaci family had been at the Verdone home for Christmas parties, and on one occasion around 1948 she loaned Mary Guttilla Maniaci (Augie’s wife) $2,000 for Club Midnight, which was later paid back. Blanche guessed that Verdone’s gambling had decreased because his money now went through a receiver, handled by attorneys Howard and Sonjou, so he wouldn’t have such easy access to cash.

Agent Holtzman spoke with an employee of Dr. Verdone on July 17, 1963. She said the only visitors Verdone received at work were Augie Maniaci and John Aiello, friends of his. She had never noticed him afraid of anybody, but joked that he would hide from process servers.

Roughly 15 members of the Milwaukee Family met at the Rafters on August 6, 1963 to discuss the “Saturday Evening Post” article on Joseph Valachi. Among those present were Frank Balistrieri, Vito Aiello and August Maniaci. Also there was a man from Chicago, who the informant either did not know or declined to identify to the FBI. Aiello and Maniaci told the group they had heard the term “Cosa Nostra” (Our Thing), while no one else had, and they assumed it was just another word for “Mafia”. One person though “Casa Nostra” (Our House) would make more sense. No one believed Valachi knew anything about Milwaukee and further it was said that no one man in Milwaukee has all the information that would be needed to “completely wreck” the Milwaukee Outfit. Valachi was seen, in general, as “stupid” and “ignorant”. Some believed the stories in the press were made up for “headlines”, such as the alleged $100,000 price tag on Valachi’s head. One person said that the Mafia would not publicize such a reward, and for a target such as this many people would do it for free anyway. The informant told the FBI that the initiation ritual Valachi described was similar to one he heard about from older, Sicilian-born members, but he himself had never done such a ritual when inducted.

The FHA case against August Maniaci and John Aiello was dropped on August 19, 1963 by Hugh O’Connell. O’Connell said that there was not enough evidence to prove they had “guilty knowledge” and also told the FBI that some of the paperwork had been stolen. Rumors persisted that O’Connell had been paid $5500 to drop the case.

On November 8, 1963, Captain John Lavin spoke with Special Agent LeGrand. Lavin described Ralph Capone as a “troubleshooter” for the Chicago Outfit. He said Tommy Fish and August Maniaci served as enforcers. Furthermore, when Frank Balistrieri had Joseph Gurera come to Milwaukee, Maniaci and John Aiello were very upset because they felt they were being replaced.

1964

A “peace meeting” was held at Gallagher’s on January 6, 1964 between the Balistrieri and Maniaci factions of the Mafia. Frank Balistrieri told the group that he hoped this meeting would lead to a more organized and cohesive group, and said he expected Joseph Gurera and Buster Balestrere to return from Kansas City. Present for the meeting were: Tom Machi, Tony Machi, Angelo DiGiorgio, August Maniaci, Mike Albano, Harry D’Angelo, Benny DiSalvo, Vince Mercurio, John Aiello, Sam Cefalu, Steve DiSalvo, Frank Stelloh, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Joseph Balistrieri.

On January 14, 1964, there was a “social gathering” at Gallagher’s, with 30-40 people present, including Walter Brocca, Steve DiSalvo, Frank Balistrieri, William Covelli, August Maniaci, a man from West Bend, and a few people from Madison. A second informant (beyond Maniaci) was invited but could not attend because he was not at his place of business when the call came in telling him about the meeting.

On January 31, 1964, there was another “social get-together” at Gallagher’s, this time with about 60 people. A man was there from Kenosha, but no Chicago guests were noticed. An informant speculated that this gathering was intended to smooth over differences between the Balistrieri and Maniaci factions of the Milwaukee family.

Special Agents interviewed Vito Aiello at his residence (3038 North Maryland) on February 26, 1964. He admitted knowing Frank Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, John Triliegi, Walter Brocca, Carlo DiMaggio and August Maniaci. Denied being a “muscle man” for Balistrieri, and said he did not think Milwaukee had a Mafia or Syndicate and such things were confined to Chicago and New York. He did say he had formerly been a bartender for Balistrieri but now worked for the Eagles Club and was no longer associated with that group of people and was not invited to several social functions in January.

On April 3, 1964, Frank Balistrieri spoke with Teamsters secretary Joseph Caminiti about their $100 contributions to various candidates for alderman (Allen Calhoun, Vel Phillips and Charlie Quirk). Caminiti told Balistrieri that “next time you can tell these people you’ve got the Teamsters backing you 100%” Money was also paid to Senator Morse and Congressman Alvin O’Konski. Mayor Maier was given $100 worth of stamps, and Balistrieri said he gave Maier’s opponent, Art Else, some money because he was an economics professor at UW-Milwaukee and “you never know” what he might do in the future. Else had apparently come into Gallagher’s asking for donations, and Balistrieri gave him some money in cash so it would not have to be declared. Balistrieri boasted that he helped get Harold Breier the job of police chief, which seems to have no basis in reality.

Caminiti also spoke of his dislike for Bobby Kennedy and believed that under President Johnson, the wiretaps would decrease. He feared, however, that Johnson could pick Kennedy as his new running mate. Caminiti also expressed his desire to raise $34,000 in Wisconsin alone for Jimmy Hoffa’s defense fund. By Caminiti’s calculation, if all the states did this, they could raise $1.3 million. He believed that Hoffa was being persecuted by the Justice Department, and said that things were no different now than “in Hitler’s day”. He related that he had heard that during Hoffa’s trial, U.S. Marshals were getting drunk with the jurors. Caminiti said O’Konski had recently made a speech favorable to Hoffa and that there was the possibility of a congressional investigation into Kennedy’s infringement on civil liberties. This was overheard on the microphone planted at 2559 North Downer Avenue, the Continental Music Company.

August Maniaci was overheard telling Balistrieri that he found an attorney that could fix his fraudulent mortgage case. Maniaci said he had already talked it over with Vito Aiello, and they both agreed that John Aiello was the one who was at fault, but Maniaci said he would be willing to take the fall if everyone else pitched in to support his family. Balistrieri said that was foolish, and they should both try to get out of it. Maniaci said he had also spoken with attorney Jack L. Goodsitt who was “connected real good”.

Balistrieri then also berated Carlo DiMaggio, saying he was foolish for letting his son Salvatore get messed up in a burglary ring. Balistrieri said he had warned Carlo that the other guys would turn on Salvatore, and sure enough, they got caught and had to be set up with Dominic Frinzi. Balistrieri then claimed that Frinzi would take the case of the person he was told to, even if someone else offered ten times as much. Regarding Carlo, Balistrieri said, “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t even know that he’s living anymore.” Carlo DiMaggio was also said to be selling meat to Holiday House at an inflated price, and one of the owners talked to Balistrieri about it. He, in turn, told them to keep buying from DiMaggio because he did not want DiMaggio to feel “small”.

After August Maniaci left, the conversation turned to his uncle, Vincent Mercurio, who had allegedly already fixed the case for Maniaci, and that is why the first warrants were thrown out. Balistrieri then said John Aiello was an envious guy, and it would hurt him real good to see Maniaci go free while he takes the fall.

The funeral for Rockford mobster George Saladino was held on June 10, 1964. Attending from Milwaukee were Peter Balistrieri, Harry D’Angelo, August Maniaci, Steve DiSalvo and Michael Albano.

On June 11, 1964, August Maniaci called John Aiello and told him that he found an attorney that would represent them for $1000 (or $200 a piece) for the mortgage case.

Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri, Benedetto DiSalvo, Mike Albano, August Maniaci and Nick Fucarino were in Rockford on August 8, 1964 for a wedding. They went to Phil Priola’s home ahead of time, were at the reception at St. Mary’s hall from 7:00 to 9:00pm and returned to Milwaukee the same evening. Milwaukee informant 623-C-TE [Maniaci?] spoke with Tony “Mack” DeMonte and Joseph Zito at the wedding, where he learned that Jasper Gallo was in the United States at Springfield at the time. Gus Giovenco was also at the wedding. On August 10, the informant told the FBI that Gallo was a former Rockford boss and now lived in Sicily. He had been in the United States trying to raise money for incarcerated Sicilians. Gallo had once owned the Pinehurst Dairy with his brother-in-law Joseph Zito and had served time in Leavenworth for bootlegging.

Special Agents interviewed Michael Albano at his home (4144 North 17th Street) on November 10, 1964. He said he had known Frank Balistrieri all his life, as they both grew up on Milwaukee’s East Side. He also admitted knowing Walter Brocca, John and Vito Aiello and August Maniaci for many years. He further said he knew Sam Ferrara, Santo Marino and John Alioto. Albano said as far as he knew, these people were all legitimate businessmen. He said he knew nothing of a Mafia or syndicate beyond what he read in the newspapers and certainly was not a member of it. He said he operated Angelo’s Pizza every day from 3pm until 3am, and before he opened the restaurant he had owned a tavern.

A top echelon informant [August Maniaci?] spoke to the FBI on November 12, 1964 and said that the night before around 2:30am Frank Balistrieri was with Felix Alderisio at the Lotus Cafe, a Chinese restaurant on Third Street. Alderisio was driving a Cadillac with Wisconsin plates and had a “sexy-looking” woman with him. After the chinese restaurant, they visited John Picciurro.

The funeral of LCN member Vito Balestrere was on December 28, 1964 at the Guardalabene and Amato funeral home at 2001 North Holton Street. Among others present were John Rizzo, Angelo DiGiorgio, Joseph Piscuine, Cono Librizzi, John Picciurro, William Covelli, Walter Brocca, Louis Fazio, Carlo and Jerome DiMaggio, Dominic Gullo, August Maniaci, John Aiello, Frank, Joseph and Peter Balistrieri, John Alioto, Harry DeAngelo, Joseph Caminiti, Michele Mineo, Santo Marino, Charles Zarcone, Joseph Spero, Sam Ferrara, Steve DiSalvo, Michael and Tony Albano, Jimmy and Buster Balestrere, John Molle (Vito’s brother-in-law), John Battista Blando, and Salvatore “Ted” and Vito Seidita. Nick Fucarino’s car, a 1960 Studebaker station wagon with license plate Q51-411 was observed parked nearby. Notably absent was John Pernice. Joseph Gurera was absent, allegedly because he was sick. Frank Balistrieri sat by Joseph Caminiti and was said to be “cold and aloof” towards everyone else. Sam Ferrara commented to an informant that the leadership needed to be replaced in Milwaukee, but it would cost too much. He referred to Balistrieri derisively as “camorista”. Tony Albano told the same informant that he had recently been contacted by the FBI and he found that very strange, not having been approached by law enforcement in 30 years.

1965

The funeral for former bootlegger Jack Iannello was held January 3, 1965 at the Strouf-Sheffield Funeral Home at 1101 High Street in Racine. Visitors included Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Benny DiSalvo, Steve DiSalvo, Dominic Principe, Albert Albana, John Aiello, William Covelli, John Rizzo and August Maniaci. An informant identified Iannello as a Racine member of the Milwaukee Family, although he had not been active for a long time. He had been a bootlegger, but after Prohibition worked for a foundry. His wife had already died, one son worked for Chrysler in California and the other two worked in Racine. An informant also said that Albert Albana and Benny DiSalvo were good friends and that Albana’s connection to Racine was counterfeiter Marty King, now deceased. At the funeral home Albana and DiSalvo embraced.

An informant [possibly August Maniaci] told Special Agent LeGrand on June 15, 1965 that John Aiello had still not returned Frank Balistrieri’s calls. Balistrieri had offered Aiello a job as a salesman for Grande Cheese, which Balistrieri now claimed to have a piece of. Aiello said he did not want Balistrieri as a boss because he was too demanding. The informant also said that Carlo DiMaggio was pushing for the next boss (if Balistrieri went to prison) to be someone without connections to the Chicago Outfit. DiMaggio was not suggesting himself.

An informant [possibly Maniaci] told Special Agent LeGrand on June 22, 1965 that he expected Joseph Enea to be “made” any day now…

Mariano Megna was buried on October 12, 1965. The funeral was attended the night before by August Maniaci, John Aiello, Joseph Caminiti, John Alioto and Nick Fucarino.

On October 30, 1965, a son of Tony Maniaci (August’s brother) was married and a reception was held at Alioto’s. Peter Balistrieri was there, as were Joe and John Balistrieri. Paul Bogosian, John Aiello and Sam Cefalu were present.

Special Agent Reed spoke with an informant on February 24, 1966 about the condition of John Aiello. The informant [who was likely August Maniaci or Aiello himself] said Aiello had been at the Veteran Hospital in the last week where he was hemorrhaging and had high blood pressure. Aiello and another man had been in Sedalia, Missouri when he began hemorrhaging and had to be treated by a Dr. White. The other man drove Aiello back to Milwaukee. He also had kidney failure. These health issues had caused Aiello’s tax trial to be delayed.

1966

When Rose Mercurio Maniaci (mother of August and Vincent Maniaci) died on April 17, 1966, at least three Rockford LCN members attended the wake on the 19th: Phil Priola, Charlie Vince and Frank Corrente. These men parked their car at Mike Albano’s restaurant and rode to the funeral with Albano to avoid having their license plate numbers written down by police. Phil Cannella (Rockford LCN member) and his wife were also there. After the funeral, they met up with Frank Balistrieri at The Scene nightclub. James Schiavo of Madison was also there.

Santo Marino called John Aiello, Vito Aiello and “an informant” to his apartment on June 26, 1966. Marino said he was sick of Frank Balistrieri and wanted them to kill him. He took out a .22 and said it would do the job. John and the informant said they were not interested and felt it would take more than a .22. Vito made no comment. [As worded, the informant is either not named — and likely August Maniaci — or John Aiello and listed twice to disguise this.]

1967

An informant was contacted on May 22, 1967. He said August Maniaci was doing “fairly good business” at his pizza place at North and Oakland.

A few Milwaukee LCN members, including Nick Fucarino and August Maniaci, went to Rockford on October 5, 1967 to attend the funeral of Rockford member Lawrence Buttice.

1968

Carlo DiMaggio died January 17, 1968 of a heart attack at Milwaukee County General Hospital. His funeral was January 20-21 at Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home on Holton, and was attended by Nick Fucarino, Dominic Principe, Steve DiSalvo, Cosmo DiSalvo, James Schiavo, Frank Sansone, Anthony Pipito and Joseph Spero among others. Sam Ferrara, Joseph Gumina, Vito Aiello, August Maniaci, Tony Seidita and Nick Fucarino were pallbearers. Principe was notably using two canes to help him walk.

Santo Marino attended a birthday party for his brother-in-law, Sam Ferrara, on February 26, 1968. The party was at the One Plus One Tavern on North Van Buren Street. Approximately 100 people were there, including Nick Fucarino, Joseph Gumina, Mike Mineo, Joseph Rizzo, August Maniaci, John Aiello, Charles Zarcone, Frank Sansone, Joseph Spero and other Milwaukee LCN members. Food and wine were free, though additional drinks from the bar were not. Notably, Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri and Steve DiSalvo did not attend. Vito Aiello was invited but had to work as a bartender for the Eagles Club that night.

Frank Balistrieri held a party at his nightclub, The Scene, on March 20, 1968. Between 100 and 150 people were there, including almost all of the Milwaukee LCN. Two people were noticeably absent: Santo Marino and Al Albana. The party was a fundraiser for mob attorney Dominic Frinzi, who was running for Milwaukee County Judge. At this party, Balistrieri told a top echelon informant [likely Maniaci] that he wanted to “let bygones be bygones” and would be putting old-timers Sam Ferrara, Vito Aiello and Santo Marino under the leadership of Steve DiSalvo. Ferrara especially resented this decision, believing that DiSalvo did not show him (as a former boss) enough respect. Other old-timers such as Michele Mineo were put under John Alioto. Harry DeAngelo, Benny DiSalvo and an informant were put under Peter Balistrieri. Louis Fazio was collecting donations, looking for $100 per person if possible. Frank Balistrieri paid for the wine and dinner, with other drinks available for purchase. No speeches were made. Vito Seidita, the consiglieri, told the informant [probably August Maniaci] that he would be under Peter Balistrieri now and would no longer be marginalized in Milwaukee. Seidita mentioned that there was at least one member of the Milwaukee Family they knew they could not trust, but he did not say who it was. Non-members present included Frank Ranney, Harold Klein and Dr. Joe Regan. Vito Guardalabene and Phil Valley were also present. (Over a month later, on April 25, the Milwaukee Sentinel reported about this party, calling it a “Little Appalachin.”)

On the evening of March 23, 1968, a dinner party was held at Rudy’s Pizzeria (corner of North and Oakland). Attending the party were Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Walter Brocca, Harry D’Angelo, Vincent Maniaci, August Maniaci, Joseph Enea and Paul Bogosian. (Somewhere around this time, Bogosian broke his leg.)

An informant told Agent Brandt on May 14, 1968 that Sam Ferrara had been visiting him on an almost daily basis, and said the FBI had asked him about the Terminal cigarette theft, of which he knew nothing. Ferrara was trying to finance his son Thomas in a business of selling cheese with August Maniaci and Tony LaRosa. Thomas presently owned a tavern and his father wanted him to leave the business. Informant believed that LaRosa was trying to negotiate a deal with the Morese brothers, who owned two cheese factories in Washington County.

Mary Mercurio Picciurro died on July 19 and her wake was held on July 21, 1968. Those present were Frank Balistrieri, Peter Balistrieri, Steve DiSalvo, Frank Sansone and August Maniaci. On this date (possibly at the funeral), Frank Balistrieri told a to echelon informant (Maniaci?) that three new members would be “made” in September, pending his tax case. Jimmy Jennaro was sponsored by Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Enea was sponsored by Joseph Spero, and Walter Brocca was sponsored by Peter Balistrieri.

On August 4, 1968, there was a stag dinner honoring the son of Vito Aiello, who was getting married. Nick Fucarino, August Maniaci, Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri, John Aiello, Sam Ferrara, Charles Zarcone, Nick Collura, Sam Cefalu, Sheriff Cefalu, Joseph Enea, Frank Sansone, Tony Machi, Vito Seidita, Walter Brocca, Joseph Spero and other hoodlums were in attendance. The dinner was held at Vitucci’s, 1832 East North Avenue. Attendees were charged $10 a plate, with the profits going as a wedding gift. Frank Balistrieri was noticeably absent. The dinner broke up at 9:30pm, and a car containing Steve DiSalvo and Sam Cefalu was pulled over as they left.

Jennie D’Angelo Alioto died on August 12, 1968 and her funeral was on August 16. Attending the wake were Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri, Frank Balistrieri, Joseph Caminiti, Vito Seidita, August Maniaci, John Alioto and Joseph Enea. A man was mugged by two black men outside of the funeral home.

On August 31, 1968, there was a wedding reception for Cheryl Marie Principe, the daughter of Dominic Principe in Kenosha. Cheryl married James Reynold Gemignani, son of Roger Gemignani, at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Kenosha. Nick Fucarino, Joseph Spero, Jimmy Jennaro, Walter Brocca, Albert Albana and most of the Milwaukee LCN attended the reception. Steve DiSalvo was in charge of invitations and declined to invite either Vito Aiello or John Aiello. August Maniaci, Santo Marino and Sam Ferrara also did not attend. [This was yet another example of the old-timers being snubbed by the younger members.]

Steve DiSalvo told an informant [probably August Maniaci] on September 23, 1968 that the Milwaukee Police Department had began a 24-hour surveillance on him the day before. He said he did not know the reason for the surveillance, but suspected it was somehow related to Bronson LaFollette running for governor. The informant reported this to the FBI on September 25.

A wedding reception for Nicolina Cannella, daughter of Rockford LCN member Phil Cannella, was held at the Faust Hotel in Rockford on October 5, 1968. Milwaukee members attending included August Maniaci and Nick Fucarino. Almost all Rockford members attended, with the exception of boss Joe Zammuto, and no one from Chicago was there. Maniaci’s daughter was a bridesmaid, and the best man was Frank “Gumba” Saladino. The groom was Ronald Arbisi.

1969

On August 1, 1969, an informant (possibly August Maniaci) told the FBI that a delegation of nine old timers led by Sam Ferrara was planning to go to Chicago and speak with Tony Accardo. Specifically, they were upset that control of the Milwaukee Family went from John Alioto to Frank Balistrieri, who had never shown them any respect. This was particularly insulting to Ferrara, a former boss. They hoped Accardo could get Balistrieri to change his ways or, better still, force a meeting where the membership could pick a new boss. [Who they wanted for boss was not expressed. It seemed to be anyone but Balistrieri.]

Around September and October 1969, Sam Ferrara was quietly going around seeking older members of the Milwaukee family to join him in contacting Chicago boss Tony Accardo. Ferrara’s goal was to convince Accardo that Frank Balistrieri was appointed Milwaukee boss by John Alioto without the rest of the family’s support, and that a meeting should be held to replace Balistrieri and possibly have Milwaukee separate from Chicago. Ferrara believed that Balistrieri was causing friction by giving too much power to Steve DiSalvo. Ferrara was able to gain the support of Joseph Rizzo, Santo Marino, Jerry DiMaggio, Nick Fucarino and August Maniaci. Joseph Spero was on the fence, but could probably have been convinced.

Nick Fucarino contacted Carlo Caputo in Madison and had Caputo talk to Tony Accardo and Jack Cerone. A meeting was set up for November 3, 1969, that would have included Fucarino, Vito Aiello, August Maniaci and would have been in Chicago. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss Frank Balistrieri. Before it happened, though, Cerone called Caputo and had him relay the message that the meeting should be postponed, as Balistrieri was soon going to prison and matters could be taken up with the new underboss of Milwaukee.

1970

Antonio “Tony” Albano died April 24, 1970. Nick Fucarino, Frank Balistrieri, August Maniaci, Sam Ferrara, Steve DiSalvo and Harry DeAngelo, among others, attended the wake at Guardalabene and Amato Funeral Home.

Madison LCN underboss Joseph Aiello died on November 7, 1970 and a funeral was held in Milwaukee on November 9. Many Milwaukee members attended the funeral, including: Steve DiSalvo, Frank Balistrieri, Sam Ferrara, Vito Seidita, August Maniaci, John Alioto, Joseph Caminiti and John Pernice. A Madison service was held the same day, and guests there included Nick Fucarino, and cars from Gallo Leasing, TCI Leasing, Grande Cheese, and Stephens and Gregg of Franklin Park, Illinois.

1971

Giuseppe Balistrieri (Frank and Peter’s father) died of a heart attack at Mount Sinai Hospital on Wednesday, March 3, 1971. He was 76 years old. Attendees at the funeral and/or wake (held at Guardalabene and Amato on March 4-5) included Salvatore Seidita, Nick Collura, Frank LaGalbo, Nick Fucarino, Harry DeAngelo, Sam Ferrara, August Maniaci, John Rizzo, Albert Albana, John Pernice, Joseph Gumina, Joseph Caminiti, Buster Balestrere, Vito Aiello, Salvatore J. Cefalu, James Schiavo and Santo Marino. Anthony Spilotro of Chicago also attended. John Alioto was nowhere to be found. Sources say he was confined to his home due to poor health. Around the time of the funeral, Knobby Gulotta spoke with James Schiavo about securing an attorney for Charlie Vince. Schiavo told him to contact the Milwaukee Family.

Tony Albano’s wife (Providenzia Seidita Albano) died and the wake was held on December 1, 1971. Among others attending the funeral were Nick Fucarino, Sam Ferrara, Vito Seidita, Joseph Caminiti, August Maniaci and Dominick Gullo (her son-in-law).

1972

The FBI reports that Steve DiSalvo called an informant on August 28, 1972 and told him of the death and asked him to tell the Rockford Family. Phil Priola of the Rockford crime family (and owner of Towne and Country Motel) was made aware of Alioto’s death by the informant, but declined to have any of the Rockford family attend the funeral for fear that this would lead to them being placed under surveillance by the police or FBI. [It is generally believed that August Maniaci was the informant, as he knew both Milwaukee and Rockford members, and we know one of the Manaici brothers was, in fact, an informant. However, James Schiavo was being groomed as an informant, so it is possible this job fell to him.]

1973

Frank Balistrieri threw a large graduation party for John Balistrieri (who received his law degree from Valparaiso) at his Center Stage night club on June 3, 1973 with over 1,000 guests. The entire Maniaci family was invited, with one notable exception: August Maniaci. Baby Joey Balistrieri was absent because he was in Las Vegas. Nick Gentile, Tony Machi, Angelo Alioto, Joe Dentice, Dominic Frinzi, Nick Fucarino, Sam Ferrara, Joe Enea, James Schiavo, Frank Stelloh, Vince Maniaci, Frank LaGalbo, Vito Aiello, August Palmisano and John Rizzo were in attendance. City clerk Allen Calhoun was there, as was Judge Vel Phillips. Restaurant owner Joseph Sardino was there, allegedly as a favor for loaning Balistrieri the money he needed to pay the IRS. The party started at 8pm and went until 2am, and was hot and overcrowded. John received some gifts and a large number of cash-filled envelopes. A fight broke out between Steve DiSalvo and Vincent Maniaci at 4:00am, probably fueled by alcohol. Agents from the Wisconsin Department of Investigation sat outside taking pictures while Dominic Frinzi and Joseph Balistrieri banged on the sides of their panel truck.

On June 11, 1973, an informant told the FBI that August Maniaci might be kicked out of the Milwaukee Family because he committed a minor violation. Maniaci had spoken with Charlie Vince about the problems he had with Frank Balistrieri. It was a violation to discuss Family business with a member of another Family (Vince was a member in Rockford, not Milwaukee).

August Maniaci and Joseph Gumina were planning to go to Fond du Lac on November 27, 1973 to see about getting reinstated in the Milwaukee Family. Whether or not the trip occurred and who they met with is unclear.

1974

Bobby Pick voluntarily came into the Milwaukee FBI office on January 24, 1974. He said he started gambling when he was 18 years old, working as a wheel roller for his father (Sam Pick) at the Club Madrid in Milwaukee on Bluemound Road, just over the county line. The Club Madrid had been a controversial gambling spot from the 1930s through the 1950s, and was a hangout for actor Spencer Tracy, but was not a Mafia-run business. Bobby Pick said he left his father’s employ but then went on to sell football gambling cards — sometimes up to 30,000 a week — but lost money in this venture. Pick then went into the Army, and when he got out worked on gambling boats off the coast of Florida. By the 1930s, he was employed as a dealer in Las Vegas (before the city had barely been built). In the early 1950s, he moved back to Milwaukee and opened a tavern on the corner of Reservoir Avenue and 12th Street. He played poker and had a horse book that he laid off with Frank Sansone. In the late 1950s, he took action from Sidney Brodson. In the early 1960s, Pick heard that gamblers in Milwaukee were being harassed by the Mafia. One night at Gallagher’s, he was motioned into the bathroom by Steve DiSalvo. DiSalvo asked him if he had been pressured, and Pick said no and he would not pay if he was asked to. As Pick left the bathroom, a man with a pistol in his belt blocked the door, but DiSalvo waved him off. Around this time, gamblers were having trouble paying Pick — one man who owed $6000 paid Pick instead with tropical fish. One of Pick’s bartenders was told by Vince and August Maniaci that Pick was to pay $100 a week, but Pick was never told to pay directly and never did. In the mid-1960s, Pick was sent to Sandstone Prison for gambling. He had been getting his line from Frank Sansone. He left his meager $5000 business with two men, and when he was out of prison six months later, they had lost it all. He started with a new partner, and within a few years, he lost $175,000 to the partner who embezzled it. Some of the money ended up with John Rizzo and a Racine attorney. At this point, he moved to Marathon, Florida. Pick continued to provide the line to (redacted), who gave it to Halmo, who gave it to Brodson. He said he only deals with one bookmaker in Florida, a man in Islamorada. Pick said he never regularly paid off the police, but on occasion he “threw them a bone”. He said Halmo once loaned a banker he met through Louis Fazio $50,000 but never got paid back; he did not know if Halmo was paying a share to the Mafia.

Sam Ferrara died on April 12, 1974 at age 78. He had recently started drinking heavily and was losing a great deal of weight, but had been generally unhealthy since his wife passed away two years prior. The funeral was held on April 15 and 16. Frank Balistrieri attended the wake and then had dinner with Steve DiSalvo, Peter Balistrieri and an unidentified gambler at the Towne Room restaurant. Joe Caminiti, Dominic Gullo, Vito Seidita, Harry DeAngelo and Albert Albana also attended the funeral. August Maniaci attended and “was accepted by almost all of the LCN members… which would appear to indicate that Maniaci will be back in good graces of the Milwaukee LCN in the near future.”

1975

On the night of June 19, 1975, a gunman (suspected of being Butch Blasi) entered Sam Giancana’s kitchen in Oak Park, Illinois and shot him in the back of the head as he was frying sausage and peppers. After Giancana fell to the ground, the gunman turned him over and shot him six more times in the face and neck. This would mark a turning point for the Maniaci brothers in Milwaukee, as Giancana was seen as their protector (despite his falling out of favor with the Chicago Outfit).

In the summer of 1975, August Maniaci’s daughter got married. Maniaci invited Frank Balistrieri, but Balistrieri did not respond and went so far as to tell other mob members not to attend the wedding.

On September 11, 1975 gambling operator August Maniaci, a suspected informer, was murdered by five gunshots to the head (along with one to the left arm and one to the left shoulder) in an alley outside his Milwaukee home at 2121 North Newhall Street. The gun was a .22 with a silencer. The hit took place around 7:10 or 7:20am as Maniaci was preparing to go to work as a salesman for Prize Steak Products at 4264 South 27th Street, Milwaukee. Maniaci was moved to his garage. Augie’s wife, Mary, was hysterical, kneeling in his blood and shouting “Wake up! Wake up!” Vincent Maniaci, who rushed to the scene, was overheard by reporters muttering, “That son of a bitch. That son of a bitch.” The gun that killed him would later be found by a sanitation worker in a storm drain near the Milwaukee River.

The morning of the killing, the Milwaukee Journal spoke with a confidential source who claimed, “Maniaci isn’t the only guy who was supposed to drop. There might be others, at least that’s the word on the streets. Bigger fish than Augie, that’s for damn sure. He was small time and always was.”

A witness, under hypnosis, claimed to have seen Chicago Outfit member Charles Nicoletti near Maniaci’s home moments after his murder. In contradiction to this, Robert D. Hardin later testified that he helped Nick D’Andrea murder Maniaci. Maniaci apparently owed Chicago gangster Albert “Caesar” Tocco money.

Another witness, under hypnosis, picked out a photo of Paul John Schiro. However, when later asked to pick Schiro out of a lineup, could not do so.

A 1964 black Ford seen in the alley minutes before Maniaci’s death bore license plates that traced back to a 1971 Lincoln owned by Triangle Wholesale Company, a Kenosha business connected to Edward Minkowski.

A .22 Browning automatic with a silencer was found in a catch basin on the North Avenue Viaduct on November 20, 1975. The gun was matched with the murder of August Maniaci. The weapon involved in Maniaci’s slaying was traced. The gun, a .22 Browning automatic with serial number 74829U-7 and a silencer, had been purchased from Bob John Inc (doing business as Tamiami Gun Shop) in Miami in 1967. From there it went to the Duome Import-Export Company, but was soon passed on to an unidentified owner. Not long after this, the Duome Company went out of business. FBI and ATF investigations of Duome found that the company had purchased over 100 guns from Tamiami in 1967, but the company was never registered with the state, and inventory records of where the guns went when Duome shut down could not be found. The FBI strongly suggested that Duome was a false company for fronting weapons for the Lebanese government.

Few Milwaukee hoodlums attended August Maniaci’s wake, with the exception of his brother Vincent. Attending were Tony Guardalabene, Santo Marino, Peter Sciortino, Jimmy Jennaro, Joseph Maniaci and Sam Cefalu. An informant told the FBI that Augie had been close friends with Sam Giancana, and it was interesting they were both killed by .22s with silencers.

An informant spoke with August Palmisano about the Maniaci murder on September 16, 1975 and Palmisano told him that he was very “shook up” about the murder, which he knew was a professional job. Although Palmisano did not know who did the killing, he suspected “it was an old vendetta that came out of Kenosha.”

Two FBI agents interviewed August Palmisano on September 18, 1975 at Richie’s Tavern. Palmisano said he did not know who killed August Maniaci but that he was very upset about it. He denied being involved in any illegal activities, which the FBI knew to be false. They also considered his answers evasive.

1977

Two FBI agents visited Joseph Caminiti at his home on March 1, 1977. Caminiti was reluctant to talk to them, but did admit knowing both August Maniaci and Louis Fazio, though knew nothing about who had killed them. He was shown a photograph of Frank Bompensiero and denied knowing who he was. Caminiti said he was not very active around Milwaukee since retiring from the Teamsters union.

On April 25, 1977, Geraldine Carter, a witness to the August Maniaci murder was shown a photo of Charles Nicoletti by Agent Richard Hunt and positively identified him as a man she saw sitting in a black Ford. Unfortunately, Nicoletti had been killed a month before.

A special agent went to Fox Lake State Prison on April 26, 1977 to speak with Anthony Pipito about various murders. Pipito said the night of the Maniaci murder he had gone to Chicago with a friend to get some tools relative to his job at the Publix Garage (Green Bay at Capitol). He first heard of the killing over the radio. Pipito said he had heard news stories saying there was a series of murders being committed with silenced .22s, and he had solid alibis for all of them. When asked if he knew Charles Nicoletti, he said he knew a Chuck in Chicago, but not Nicoletti. When asked, Pipito said there was no Mafia in Milwaukee. He said he was “in good standing” with the Balistrieri family, and hoped to work at Snug’s when he got out of prison.

An informant later said a meeting was held at the Shorecrest in May 1977 and Frank Balistrieri said, “Vincent Maniaci was a troublemaker and should be murdered like his brother.” [I have no guess as to who the informant was. Who was part of the “inner circle” after Augie Maniaci was killed, and would also speak to the FBI?]

A special agent interviewed Vito Aiello in Aiello’s 1969 Cadillac parked on Maryland Avenue several blocks from his home on May 13, 1977. Aiello was asked about August Maniaci’s murder, and said he knew nothing but speculated that Maniaci owed a gambling debt to “those people”. When pressed about who he meant, Aiello responded that the agent “knew the people I’m talking about”. Aiello said he was a friend of the Maniaci family and knew most of the Italian hoodlums from social gatherings, but insisted he was not personally involved in any criminal activity.

Roughly August 10, 1977, Vincent Maniaci was called before a grand jury to testify about the use of .22 pistols in gangland murders — over 25 such murders were known to have featured .22s in the last two years, including the murder of August Maniaci. Maniaci pleaded the Fifth.

An arrest warrant was issued for [redacted] on October 20, 1977 for the murder of August Maniaci. The charge was dismissed, however, when the witness could not positively identify him in a line-up.

1978

On the evening of January 5, 1978 from 5:35pm until 8:40pm, someone (redacted) hid a tape recorder to try to get more information concerning the bombing of Vincent Maniaci and murder of August Maniaci. Unfortunately, the tape came back unintelligible and laboratory enhancement did not help.

On January 13, 1978, a tape recorder was hidden in the same location as it had been on January 5. This time the tape picked up some background noise, including a ventilator, and the general voice recordings were poor. However, the tape was still believed to contain “some pertinent information” to the Maniaci investigations. The tapes were played for two assistant US attorneys on January 20, and they agreed the information was not incriminating enough and that the sound quality was too poor to use at trial anyway.

1979

On August 2, 1979, Frank Thomas Ammirato, 46, of Fort Lauderdale, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison for conspiring to transport silenced machine guns and drugs (including PCP and methaqualone). Dante Angelo Grassi, 36, also of Fort Lauderdale, was sentenced to 14 years. And Jack Louis Gail, 35, of Wheeling, Illinois, was given 15 years. The men had been shipping .22 pistols and light machine guns to Chicago and equipping them with silencers. Ammirato was an associate and neighbor of Dominick Santorelli, a member of the Chicago Outfit, and was an important operative in Santorelli’s illegal loan sharking, weapons and narcotics activities. Gail had sold undercover agents one silencer and offered to begin supplying fifty more per month. The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel claimed that at “least 20 federal informants have been killed in the past year by hit men using silencer-equipped .22 pistols.” Although August Maniaci’s murder was not in the past year, he was likely included in this count.

At the end of September 1979, Agent Michael DeMarco met with an informant. The informant said he was a good friend of Tony LaRosa, owner of Prize Steak Company, and knew there was “bad blood” between LaRosa and Balistrieri for a long time. About seven years prior, Steve DiSalvo had been visiting Prize Steak on a daily basis and LaRosa was afraid the mob wanted to take over his business. To help stand up to the mob, LaRosa hired August Maniaci, and Maniaci told DiSalvo to “stay the hell out of Prize Steak.” This resulted in a violent argument between the two in the company’s parking lot.

1984

May 29, 1984: At Frank Balistrieri’s sentencing, a letter from Vincent Maniaci was entered into evidence. Maniaci wrote, “I wish to inform you that I have no knowledge or any indication whatsoever that Balistrieri was involved in the death of my brother, August Maniaci. In addition, I have no knowledge or reason to believe that Balistrieri attempted to kill me by placing a dynamite bomb in my automobile. I have no reason to fear any harm from Balistrieri. I have been living openly in Hawaii for over seven years. During that time, no harm has come to me nor has there been any indication that I was in any jeopardy whatsoever from Balistrieri. During the past seven years, I have traveled to Milwaukee three times. I have never been afraid to travel to Milwaukee for any reason whatsoever. During my past trips to Milwaukee, I did have occasion to meet with Balistrieri and our relationship has always been a cordial one. No harm befell me during my past visits to Milwaukee, nor was there ever any indication of any danger to me or my family. I have no reason to believe that my relationship with Balistrieri will be anything other than the continuation of the long-standing friendship we have enjoyed in the past.”

2010

Anthony Francis Pipito died on December 10, 2010, his 74th birthday. While the FBI connected him to the August Maniaci murder, Pipito was never tried for these crimes and the case remains officially unsolved.